Dietary supplements containing extracts of cinnamon and methods of using same to enhance creatine transport

ABSTRACT

Materials derived from cinnamon can be administered orally to humans or animals for the purpose of controlling blood glucose as well improving glucose tolerance. Controlling glucose metabolism is essential for those with impaired glucose metabolism as is the case for those with Type II diabetes where insulin function is not properly functioning. Such administration can also be used for the purpose of enhancing nutrient transport for purposes of athletic performance and controlling bodyweight and body fat levels. Similarly related, such administration can also be used for the purpose of enhancing creatine transport into excitable tissues such as skeletal muscle. The material can be administered as extracts of cinnamon and can be administered in a variety of ways including capsules, tablets, powdered beverages, bars, gels or drinks.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 12/404,930filed Mar. 16, 2009, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No.10/823,429 filed on Apr. 12, 2004, which is a Non-Provisional ofProvisional (35 USC 119(e)) application Ser. No. 60/462,100 filed onApr. 11, 2003, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to dietary supplements comprisingcinnamon, or extracts thereof or derivatives of the extracts thereof,and to methods of using these dietary supplements to enhance nutrienttransport and to promote weight loss, both in humans and animals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Type II diabetes is quickly becoming an epidemic in the United States.The increased incidence of Type II diabetes has been attributed to dietscharacterized by high fat intake and repeated ingestion of refined foodsand sugars, coupled with low fiber and vegetable intake. Diet, alongwith the natural aging process, causes a deterioration in the way inwhich the body metabolizes blood glucose. When the body cannot properlymetabolize blood glucose, a tendency to store glucose as fat typicallyoccurs. This is one reason levels of body fat increase with age.Diabetes is also known to be associated with a variety of other ailmentsincluding heart disease, hypertension, and obesity. There is a knownlink between insulin resistance and increased visceral adiposity.Diabetes is also a leading cause of glaucoma and other conditionsrelated to a decrease in the quality of life.

It has long been known that natural and/or synthetic substances may aidin controlling blood glucose and enhancing nutrient transport. Suchsubstances act by a variety of mechanisms. For example, some substancesact by mimicking the effects of endogenous insulin and are thereforecapable of replacing endogenous insulin. Such substances includesynthetic insulin injections such as those which are routinelyprescribed to individuals with Type I diabetes. Other commonlyprescribed substances known to mimic the effects of insulin include thenaturally occurring compounds taurine, 4-hydroxyisoleucine, arginine,and vanadium. Although these compounds have been shown to work asinsulin mimetics by acting in the body to decrease serum blood glucoselevels, they have not been successfully developed into viable treatmentsfor disorders of glucose metabolism.

Still other substances act directly to increase what is termed insulinsensitivity or glucose tolerance. Glucose intolerance forces the body togenerate additional insulin in an effort to lower blood glucose. Thiscauses stress on the beta-cells of the pancreas and is thought to be akey contributor to Type II diabetes. In a state of glucose intolerance,the body mechanism for disposing of blood glucose is not functioning atits optimum level and therefore the system is inefficient. Substanceswhich increase insulin sensitivity or glucose tolerance by assisting thebody in returning to optimal levels of blood glucose includealpha-lipoic acid, pinitol and myo-inositol. These substances cannotentirely replace the function of endogenous insulin, but work at thereceptor level alongside endogenous insulin to increase insulinsensitivity or glucose tolerance. Here, the action is exerted directlyon the Glut-4 receptor of the cell to trigger the cascade normallycaused by insulin that allows for the reduction in blood sugar via thetransport of nutrients into the cell.

In the past, chromium was thought to aid in weight loss by controllingblood glucose and preventing the deposition of fatty acids. However, itsactions were greatly limited and its claims never came to fruition.Cinnamon, known for its high concentration of chromium, has also beenused for the control of blood glucose. However, researchers havedemonstrated that cinnamon's effects are not from chromium, but ratherfrom a different class of compounds. One study by Kahn et al. comparedthe chromium levels of foods and spices including cinnamon, and failedto find a correlation between chromium level and the level of insulinpotentiation. (Biological Trace Element Research, 1990; 24: 183-188). Ameta-analysis by Althuis et al. showed no association between chromiumand glucose or insulin concentrations. (Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 2002; . 76:148-55). A study by Broadhurst et al. has demonstrated that cinnamon isa strong potentiator of insulin in comparison to various other herbs andspices. (J. Agric. Food Chem., 2000; 48:849-852).

One particular extract of cinnamon, methyl hydroxy chalcone polymer(MHCP), shows promising data in the area of glucose control. A recentstudy compared the effect of MHCP in 3T3-LJ adipocytes to that ofinsulin. (Jarvill- Taylor et al., J. Am. College Nutr., 2001;20:327-336). The results from that study support the theory that MHCPtriggers the insulin cascade and subsequent transport of nutrients. Thestudy also demonstrated that MHCP treatment stimulated glucose uptakeand glycogen synthesis to a similar level as insulin. The study furtherdemonstrated that treatment with endogenous insulin and MHCP resulted ina synergistic effect. Due to these conclusions it is suggested that MHCPmay prove to be a very valuable tool in the fight against diabetes,where insulin is present.

In addition to benefiting Type II diabetics, cinnamon may benefitindividuals with impaired glucose tolerance (i.e., pre-diabetics).Further, cinnamon has been shown to possess antioxidant activitiesrelated to lipid peroxidation. (Mancini-Filho et al., Bol/ettino ChimicoFarmaceutico, 1998; 37:443-47). Cinnamon can be used as a foodantioxidant and to enhance food palatability.

In broad terms, nutrient transport involves the deposit of nutrientsinto various tissues. For example, after the insulin cascade, the Glut-4transport system triggered by insulin drives nutrients such ascarbohydrates, amino acids (e.g., glutamine, arginine, leucine, taurine,isoleucine and valine) and creatine into skeletal tissue. Typically,water is driven into the cells at the same time.

Creatine is a natural dietary component primarily found in animalproducts. In the body, creatine is stored predominantly in skeletalmuscle, and mostly in the form of phosphorylated creatine, but also inits free state. Total creatine content of mammalian skeletal muscle(i.e., creatine and phosphorylated creatine) typically varies from about100 to about 140 mmol/kg. The level of creatine and phosphorylatedcreatine present in skeletal muscle can be increased through dietarysupplementation with creatine.

The fuel for all muscular work in the body is adenosine tri-phosphate,or ATP. During intense exercise, ATP is utilized very rapidly. The bodydoes not store much ATP in muscle so other substances must be brokendown in order to replenish the A TP that is rapidly broken down duringexercise. If the ATP is not replenished, fatigue occurs and force/powerproduction declines. Of all the substances in the body that canreplenish ATP, the fastest is phosphorylated creatine. Thus, the primaryfunction of phosphorylated creatine in muscle is to buffer ATP bypreventing decreases in ATP during exercise.

Creatine is taken up into tissues, such as skeletal muscle, by means ofan active transport system that typically involves an insulin dependentpathway. In a study by Stengee et al., insulin was co-infused along withcreatine supplementation. (Am. J Physiol., 1998; 275:E974-79). Theresults of this study indicated that insulin can enhance creatineaccumulation in muscle, but only if insulin levels are present atextremely high or supra-physiological concentrations. Stengee et al.refers to a previous study by Green et al. which involvedexperimentation with ingestion of creatine in combination with acarbohydrate-containing solution to increase muscular uptake of creatineby creating physiologically high plasma insulin concentrations. Stengeeet al. reports that Green et al. had found the quantity of carbohydratenecessary to produce a significant increase in creatine uptake, ascompared to creatine supplementation alone, was close to the limit ofpalatability.

Thus, there exists a need in the art for a viable method of increasingthe uptake of creatine into mammalian tissue, such as skeletal muscle.Further, there exists a need in the art for a dietary supplement whoseadministration at normal physiological concentrations would effect suchan increase in creatine uptake.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is: (a) a dietary supplement comprising cinnamon, or anextract thereof or a derivative of the extract thereof and a nutrient,or a derivative or a precursor thereof, with or without a carbohydrate;and (b) methods of increasing the uptake of nutrients in mammalianmuscle, enhancing nutrient transport, and enhancing athletic performancecomprising administration of said dietary supplement.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a method and adietary supplement which will enhance the uptake of nutrients intomammalian muscle. More specifically, it is an object of the invention toprovide a method and a dietary supplement which will enhance the uptakeof creatine into skeletal muscle. It is a further object of theinvention to provide a method and a dietary supplement that triggers aninsulin dependent pathway to enhance the uptake of creatine intoskeletal muscle. It is a still further object of the invention toprovide a method and a dietary supplement that achieves these objectswhen administered in physiologically acceptable amounts.

Also disclosed herein is: (a) a dietary supplement comprising cinnamon,or an extract thereof or a derivative of the extract thereof and (b)methods of losing weight and reducing body fat comprising administrationof said dietary supplement.

Accordingly, it is also an object of the invention to provide a methodand a dietary supplement which will promote weight loss and body fatreduction.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The creatine-containing dietary supplements of the invention comprisecinnamon, or an extract thereof or a derivative of the extract thereofand creatine, or a derivative or a precursor thereof, with or without acarbohydrate.

Additionally, the body fat reduction and weight loss dietary supplementsof the invention comprise cinnamon, or an extract thereof or aderivative of the extract thereof.

Cinnamon is one of the world's most popular spices. Cinnamon containsover one hundred different chalcones within it. Chalcones are a type ofpolyphenol or flavonoid. These chalcones may be extracted from cinnamonand isolated, and, optionally, derivatized. One chalcone which can beextracted from cinnamon is the phytochemical methyl hydroxy chalconepolymer, or MHCP. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, thedietary supplement includes MHCP.

The isolation of phytochemicals from cinnamon follows the generalprocess of aqueous extraction followed by centrifugation to removenon-soluble compounds. Specifically, MHCP and other water-solublepolyphenol polymers can be extracted from cinnamon using the followingprocess: 5 g cinnamon and 100 ml 0.1 N acetic acid are combined andautoclaved for 15 minutes. The resultant mixture is cooled, thencentrifuged and the precipitate discarded. Four volumes of ethanol/0.1 Nacetic acid are added to the supernatant and the mixture is storedovernight at 4° C. The mixture is screened through a filter and thenintroduced onto an LH-20 column and washed with 600 ml ethanol/0.1 Nacetic acid. The desired fraction is then eluted with a 1:1 mixture ofacetonitrile and 0.2 N acetic acid. The eluent is then concentrated andintroduced onto a HPLC column at 275 nm.

The chemical name for creatine is methylguanidino acetic acid. This isthe free form of creatine. Known creatine derivatives include creatinemonohydrate and other hydrates, creatine salts such as creatine citrate,creatine esters, phosphorylated creatine, and creatine pyruvate. Knowncreatine precursors include glycocyamine or Guanidineacetic Acid and theamino acids arginine, glycine, and methionine. In a preferred embodimentof the invention for the creatine-containing dietary supplements, thedietary supplement includes creatine monohydrate.

The optional carbohydrate in the creatine-containing dietary supplementsof the invention include simple sugars such as the monosaccharidesglucose and dextrose.

Typical formulations of creatine-containing dietary supplementsaccording to the invention include: dietary supplements containing fromabout 0.1 mg to about 100 mg of cinnamon extract or cinnamon extractderivative per gram of dietary supplement; dietary supplementscontaining from about 1 mg to about 900 mg of creatine or creatinederivative or creatine precursor per gram of dietary supplement, andpreferably from about 50 mg to about 125 mg of creatine or creatinederivative or creatine precursor per gram of dietary supplement; dietarysupplements containing from about 1 mg to about 950 mg of carbohydrateper gram of dietary supplement, preferably from about 400 mg to about900 mg of carbohydrate per gram of dietary supplement, and morepreferably from about 500 mg to about 800 mg of carbohydrate per gram ofdietary supplement.

Typical formulations of the body fat reduction and weight loss dietarysupplements of the invention include dietary supplements containing fromabout 1 mg to about 1,000 mg of cinnamon extract or cinnamon extractderivative per gram of dietary supplement

Typical daily dosages of the creatine-containing dietary supplements ofthe invention are about 10 mg to about 10,000 mg of cinnamon extract orcinnamon extract derivative and about 100 mg to about 25,000 mg ofcreatine or creatine derivative or creatine precursor, and preferablyabout 500 mg to about 10,000 mg of creatine or creatine derivative orcreatine precursor. Generally, the creatine-containing dietarysupplements of the invention are administered in an amount of from about200 mg to about 500 g per day.

Typical daily dosages of the body fat reduction and weight loss dietarysupplements of the invention are about 10 mg to about 10,000 mg ofcinnamon extract or cinnamon extract derivative. Generally, the body fatreduction and weight loss dietary supplements of the invention areadministered in an amount of from about 100 mg to about 500 g per day.

The dietary supplements of the invention are orally administered and canbe in the form of capsules, tablets, powdered beverages, bars, gels ordrinks.

Administration of the dietary supplements of the invention will mimicthe effects of insulin and will decrease glucose intolerance, therebyincreasing the efficiency of insulin. As a result, administration of thecreatine-containing dietary supplements of the invention will enhancethe transport of creatine into tissues such as skeletal muscle. Theincrease in the amount of creatine storage in the muscle can be measuredby muscle biopsy. Upon administration of the creatine-containing dietarysupplements of the invention for a period of days (e.g., for as littleas 4 days and as many as 30 days), the total creatine content ofskeletal muscle (i.e., free and phosphorylated creatine) will increasefrom about 10% to about 40% where typical levels of total creatine inskeletal muscle prior to administration are between about 100 to about140 mmol/kg of dry muscle.

Administration of the body fat reduction and weight loss dietarysupplements of the invention, particularly to individuals with impairedglucose tolerance, will have the effect of restoring optimal glucosefunctioning, therefore lessening the likelihood of adipose storage, andleading to a reduction in body fat and weight.

EXAMPLE I

Four subjects (males ages 18-45 yr) consumed one serving of a dietarysupplement as described herein four times per day for five days. Eachserving of the dietary supplement is approximately 96 g and includes thefollowing active ingredients:

Compound Amount creatine monohydrate about 7.5 g creatine magnesiumchelate about 2.5 g Cinnulin PF ™ (a source of water-soluble about 200mg extracts of cinnamon available from Integrity NutraceuticalsInternational) carbohydrates (dextrose, maltodextrin, about 69 gtrehalose and maltose)

Each approximate 96 g serving is mixed with 8 ounces of water to providea liquid drink for consumption. The subjects followed a weight-liftingregime on four out of the five days. On these four workout days, thesubjects consumed one serving of the dietary supplement 60 minutesbefore working out and another serving of the dietary supplementimmediately after finishing working out. The subjects consumed theremaining two servings of the dietary supplement withcarbohydrate-containing meals. On the one non workout day, the subjectsconsumed one serving of the dietary supplement every four hours. Thisstudy demonstrated that administration of the dietary supplement causedan average 20% increase in strength among the subjects, as measured bybenchpress (number of repetitions) to failure.

The examples and embodiments set forth in the present application areprovided only to illustrate various aspects of the invention andadditional embodiments and advantages of the dietary supplements andmethods of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art.

1. A dietary supplement consisting essentially of: a. a first ingredientconsisting of: a water-soluble extract of cinnamon; b. a secondingredient consisting essentially of: arginine, glycine, or methionine;and c. optionally, at least one carbohydrate; wherein said water-solubleextract of cinnamon functions synergistically with said secondingredient at a daily intake of between 10 and 2,000 milligrams of saidwater-soluble extract of cinnamon and between 100 and 25,000 milligramsof said second ingredient to increase the uptake of creatine by a muscleof a subject by an insulin dependent pathway and said water-solubleextract of cinnamon decreases glucose intolerance.
 2. The dietarysupplement of claim 1, wherein the carbohydrate is selected from thegroup consisting of dextrose, maltose, maltodextrin and trehalose. 3.The dietary supplement of claim 1 wherein element (a) is present in anamount from about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg per gram of dietary supplementand element (b) is present in an amount from about 10 mg to about 900 mgper gram of dietary supplement and the dietary supplement lacks said atleast one carbohydrate.
 4. The dietary supplement of claim 1 or 3wherein said at least one carbohydrate is present in an amount of fromabout 1 mg to about 950 mg per gram of dietary supplement.
 5. Thedietary supplement of claim 1, wherein said water-soluble extract ofcinnamon is further characterized in that it is comprised of a fractionof cinnamon which is soluble in 0.1 N acetic acid.
 6. The dietarysupplement of claim 1, wherein element (a) is present in the amount of 2mg per gram of the dietary supplement and element (b) is present in anamount of 104 mg per gram of the dietary supplement and the at least onecarbohydrate is present.
 7. The dietary supplement of claim 1 furthercomprising: one or more of a creatine hydrates, creatine salts,glycocyamine, or guanidine acetic acid.
 8. The method of claim 7 whereinsaid dietary supplement comprises creatine monohydrate as said creatinehydrate and a creatine ester as said creatine salt.
 9. A method ofincreasing total creatine content of skeletal muscle of a subjectcomprising: administering for at least 4 days, within 60 minutes priorto a workout, a dietary supplement comprising: a cinnamon extract; atleast one of arginine, glycine, or methionine; and a carbohydrate; toincrease the total creatine content of the skeletal muscle of thesubject.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said cinnamon extract is awater-soluble extract.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein saidwater-soluble extract is a fraction soluble in 0.1 N acetic acid. 12.The method of claim 9 wherein the total creatine content increasesbetween 10% and 40%.
 13. The method of claim 9 wherein said dietarysupplement further comprises one or more of a creatine hydrates,creatine salts, glycocyamine, or guanidine acetic acid.
 14. The methodof claim 13 wherein said dietary supplement comprises creatinemonohydrate as said creatine hydrate and a creatine ester as saidcreatine salt.
 15. The method of claim 9 wherein said carbohydratecomprises maltodextrin.
 16. The method of claim 9 further comprisingadministering said dietary supplement subsequent to the workout.
 17. Themethod of claim 16 further comprising administering said dietarysupplement on days intermediate between said workout and a subsequentworkout.